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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson is
already talking a bowl game, the kind of talk that hasn't been
heard in Corvallis for more than 30 years.
Erickson admitted his Beavers were outrushed and outpassed by an
Arizona team that piled up 500 yards in offense, but Oregon State
was not outscored.
Jonathan Smith threw a trio of touchdown passes for Oregon State
(7-3, 4-3 Pac-10) and ran for one himself as the Beavers took
advantage of repeated Arizona penalties and mistakes to beat the
Wildcats 28-20 on Saturday.
But Smith completed just 17 of 40 passes overall, ending up with
209 yards.
"It wasn't the prettiest win I've ever been around," Erickson
said. "We struggled a bit."
Arizona struggled more, nearly beating themselves with five
fumbles, two interceptions and 16 penalties for 156 yards.
"We fought hard, but we just made too many mistakes, too many
mistakes," Arizona coach Dick Tomey said.
Arizona (6-5, 3-4) and Oregon State had entered the game tied with California for fifth place in the Pac-10 Conference, and Cal lost to Oregon earlier Saturday.
Now, an Arizona team that finished 12-1 last season and was ranked in the top five before the season may see its postseason chances evaporate, while the Beavers are virtually assured of one of the conference's five bowl berths.
The Arizona loss came despite 221 yards rushing from senior running back Trung Canidate, who easily broke Ontiwaun Carter's record of 3,501 career rushing yards from 1991-94. Canidate's 33
carries for the game pushed his career total to 3,666 career yards with one game remaining.
Arizona hurt itself with a string of nine penalties for 97 yards
in the first half, including two key penalties against Manuia
Savea. The senior offensive tackle drew a personal foul and a
holding call that stalled both second-quarter Wildcat drives,
ending with field goals instead of touchdowns.
Jonathan Smith threw a 5-yard pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh to tie
the game at 7-7 after Arizona quarterback Keith Smith opened the
scoring with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Wade six minutes
into the game.
Jonathan Smith came back with a 65-yard pass to Roddy Tompkins
in the second quarter, a 1-yard keeper dive in the third quarter
and a 1-yard toss on a goalline bootleg to tight end Martin Maurer
with 6:51 in the third quarter to round out the scoring for Oregon
State.
Arizona also had two field goals of 35 and 34 yards from Sean
Keel, and a 50-yard touchdown run by Canidate with 4:36 left in the
third quarter that closed the scoring for both teams.
The Oregon State defense made two big plays to help the Beavers
expand their lead during that period, starting with a punt took a
wild bounce off Arizona defensive back David Laudermilk.
The Beavers recovered on the Arizona 5 before Jonathan Smith ran
his TD keeper from a yard out with 11:17 left in the third quarter.
Oregon State linebacker James Allen intercepted Keith Smith and
returned it seven yards to set up a four-play, 41-yard scoring
drive that ended on a 1-yard bootleg pass to Maurer for the final
Oregon State TD.
OSU's Ken Simonton set up the score with a 37-yard run on a draw play
that gave him the 12th game of his career with more than 100 yards
rushing, and his eighth 100-plus game of the season.
He also had a 46-yard gain on another draw play early in the game.
Simonton joined Erickson in predicting a postseason trip for the Beavers, who just last week clinched their first winning season since 1970.
"It took a year longer than I thought it should have," he
said. "But you know, beggars can't be choosers."
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Oregon State Clubhouse
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